It could be that your crock pot is losing some of its heating ability and isn't getting to the desired temperature, or that something has changed regarding the inner humidity (ie: maybe the lining of the lid isn't as tight - so the moisture is escaping?)

I recently had to replace my crockpot - it was my mothers, and just wasn't cooking properly anymore. Perhaps something similar is the problem! I hope it can be resolved! :]

Noticing the ingredients you all use, I notice one thing missing. My mom used to take the left over Easter ham bone with some meat on it and include that. Maybe it was the thing that set her off to make it. She would only make split pea soup if she had that ingredient. She didn't use a crock pot, so maybe having a large ham bone in one would take up too much space?

Noticing the ingredients you all use, I notice one thing missing. My mom used to take the left over Easter ham bone with some meat on it and include that. Maybe it was the thing that set her off to make it. She would only make split pea soup if she had that ingredient. She didn't use a crock pot, so maybe having a large ham bone in one would take up too much space?

I save my pork roast bones and pork butt bones with some extra meat for any kind of beans. If I have used them up, I buy smoked turkey neck bones for a wonderful flavor. Or smoked ham hocks. YUM.

I have a feeling most people do, but just don't mention it.

__________________
If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Uh-oh... I had better get my butt in gear and make the split pea soup I bought the peas for several months ago. I didn't realize they could go bad and not soften.

Pacanis, my guess is that the peas that don't soften are "years" old, either stuck at the back of a grocery shelf, or stuck at the back of pantry shelf. Never fear with a bag "several months old". Just the same, get those ham hocks ready Bud!

As Z mentioned, I don't think you can make a good pot of pea soup without bones, my favorite being a meaty ham bone or ham hocks.

__________________Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away.

Split pea soup is a rich, and savory soup made from split peas, onion, salt and water. Other flavors that make it better include smoky pork, as in ham, ham bone, and ham hocks or shanks. onion, and grated carrot. The following is just one example of split pea soup. It's the way we like it in our house.
Ingredients:
2 cups cubed, smoky ham
1 ham bone
1 lb. split peas
1 large, sweet onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
water
2 tbs. butter

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and carrot and saute until soft. Add 2 cups of water and the split peas. Stir to keep the peas from clumping and bring to a light boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the carrot, ham, and ham bone, and enough water to cover everything by 2 inches. Cover and simmer over a medium flame for 30 minutes more. Remove the lid and taste the broth. If required, correct the seasoning to taste with salt and garlic powder. Remove the bone and stir. The peas should start to disintegrate now. Stir every 10 minutes or so until the peas are completely incorporatged into the soup.Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. If the solids sing to the bottom, you will need to bind the soup.

Binding the soup: Melt three tbs. butter or cooking oil in a clean frying pan. Add three heaping tbs. of flour to the oil and heat until bubbling. Stir to make sue all of the flour is coated with the cooking oil. This is called a roux. When the roux is bubbling, ladle a half cup of soup broth into the roux, while stirring. When the two are blended, a thick paste will have formed. Stir in more broth to thin it out. Add the binding liquid back into the soup and bring to a rolling boil, stirring to avoid scorching the soup. Remove from heat and serve with pepper and good bread.

Yellow split pea soup
Similar to the green split pea soup, but generally isn't as thick, and has pepper added to the soup.